Expert Advocates Greater Collaboration With Coastal Communities for Effective Maritime Sector Development
Barrister Abdullahi Tony Dinia, a marine consultant, has called on the Nigerian government to create a comprehensive policy that will foster collaboration between the maritime sector and communities located in the marine environment to promote economic sustainability
According to Mr Dinia, who is also a right activist,a deliberate community engagement policy framework will enable vessel and business owners coming into the country to engage with coastal communities more effectively by promoting mutual benefits as this partnerships will aim to drive sustainable development in the maritime industry.
He added that by implementing such a policy, Nigeria can tap into the vast potential of its maritime sector, which is critical to the country’s economic growth.
Speaking at a one day workshop organised by the Congress of Nigeria Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) themed: Port Community Engagement : Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development on December 17, 2024, Dania emphasised that to sustain such policies, it is necessary to continually engage representatives of ports communities by promoting integration and getting involved in the local politics of these communities.
He called on the federal government to reduce cash gifts to the barest minimum and channel such money into building beneficial projects that will enhance the lives of people in the community .
” The Federal government of Nigeria needs to formulate a deliberate policy that will help to create a sustainable relationship between the maritime sector and the ports communities.
“Business and vessel owners seeking licenses in the maritime sector should firstly present to the ministry what their plans are for the port communities. Yearly , we hear huge amounts of revenue declarations but nothing is being given back to help enhance the livelihood of people living around the ports.
” The solution giving out money to the leaders of the communities. If you take a critical look at them, what they lack mostly are social amenities like schools, electricity and food .We need to get a first hand experience by going into these communities and providing for them in terms of corporate social responsibility.
“People live around the ports. We need to go to the cross area and you see how unregulated the communities are. But if you check the budgets and the amount allocated to them we will get to know that the amount allocated for port coast community development are not used for its purpose.
While speaking at the sideline of event on the area of the economy which the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy should prioritise in the coming year 2025, he said the maritime industry in Nigeria holds vast untapped potential for growth and revenue generation and it’s crucial that the ministry prioritises the regulatory agencies and streamlines their functions to avoid inefficiency.
“If the maritime industry is well harnessed, it has a lot of untapped opportunities and income. So I will advise the ministry to prioritise the regulatory agencies and try to prevent duplicities of functions among the regulatory agencies”
Alhaji Tunde Umar Daniah, the President of CONMMEP in his welcome address said that as a media advocacy group ,they recognize the significance in transforming ports communities for sustainable growth. Noting that the ports communities are vibrant, diverse, and resilient, yet face unique challenges ,the CONMMEP envision a future where these communities thrive, drive economic growth, social prosperity, and environmental stewardship.
“Through comprehensive research, stakeholder engagement, and actionable recommendations, we aim to improve lives by addressing environmental degradation, economic inequality, and social disparities promote sustainable development, green infrastructure, and climate resilience, foster economic growth, social responsibility, and community-led initiatives.
“We shall join forces with the federal government, state government policymakers, stakeholders, and community leaders to collaborate, embrace recommendations and that will benefit port communities because the time to act is now.”
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Controller of Apapa Customs Command who was represented by SC EN Enweani in his speech highlighted ways through which community engagement can be beneficial to the maritime sector.
Olomu emphasised that through community engagement, opportunities can be created for the port and the community to learn together and build shared knowledge on matters of interest on economic stability.
“Partnerships are important for sustainable development because they can help address complex challenges by bringing together resources and expertise from different sectors of the economy.
“Digital platforms called Ports community systems (PCS) can help stakeholders exchange information more easily, which could lead to quicker decisions and more efficient operations” he added.
